Vintage fashion. The top ten guide.

The Creative Tourist guide to vintage fashion and boutique shops in Manchester – all within the eclectic confines of the Northern Quarter

Look up ‘Northern Quarter’ in the dictionary and you might just find the word ‘vintage’ listed in the description. In the white heat of a 1980s revival that began with pointy shoes and shoulder pads and might just end in a Tory government (shudder), a cluster of vintage shops have sprung up in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. And what a mixed bunch: hustling for trade alongside the independent bars, bookstores and record shops, you’ll find everything from high-end vintage to jumble sale chic. So, to guide you through an afternoon’s bargain hunting, read our top ten old-as-new shops.

1. The original second-hand store (Oxfam Originals, Oldham Street)
Selling the edited highlights of the pick-and-mix normally found in its high street shops, Oxfam Originals is the grown-up version of Oxfam. Staffed by art college types and frequented by the too-cool-for-school brigade, Oxfam Originals sells clothing and accessories for both men and women – some of it high end (we spotted a Hermès silk scarf on our last visit). Sister store Oxfam Emporium can be found nearby: it sells music, books, clothing, furniture and – best of all – coffee for 50p (there’s even a little sofa out back to sit and sup it on).

2. The one with its own label (Junk, Dale Street)
Riding the crest of the vintage fashion wave, retro retailer Junk opened its Northern Quarter store at the end of 2007. It does a roaring trade in second-hand togs, screen-printed tees, bags, brogues, scarves and, um, plastic insects. But what makes Junk stand out from the retro crowd is the fact that it stocks its own fashion labels. ‘Made in the Mill’ features recycled, re-worked and original clothing, all made in Salford and sold at rock-bottom prices.

3. The one that does disco, tarot and dressmaking (Rags to Bitches, Tib Street)
What’s not to like about Rags to Bitches? Alongside vintage womenswear, there’s a stock of own-label clothing that uses vintage patterns as a starting point for unique, contemporary pieces. But the real joy of Rags to Bitches comes from the way it’s run. Time Out described the shop as ‘decorated like a Victorian jewellery box’, while owners Flic and Simon go out of their way to make shoppers feel at home. Occasional fairy cakes, clothes swap parties, disco nights, dressmaking courses, tarot readings make this a shop with personality.

4. The one that’s cute as a button (Retro Rehab, Oldham Street)
As sweet as a cupcake and with flouncy décor to match, Retro Rehab is most definitely one for the girls (or, to put it another way: it doesn’t sell menswear). This shop instead stocks a range of vintage dresses alongside original clothes, bags, button earrings and soft toys made from sumptuous second-hand fabrics. It’s also the only place we’ve seen with a whole rack of 1980s silk jumpsuits.

>> TEA BREAK! Retro dining. All shopping and no relaxing makes Jill a dull girl, and likely to have the sort of relationship-busting row with the hapless Jack that could so easily be avoided by a nice cup of tea. Take the weight off in the teeny tiny Bread and Butter cafe (Tib Street), Soup Kitchen (Spear Street, great for towering salads, homemade soup and people watching) or the Koffee Pot (a greasy spoon on Hilton Street whose clientele are an engaging mix of diehard locals and cool kids).

5. The one with its eye on your living room (Den Furniture, Hilton Street)
If you’re after an armchair to match your new 1970s shift dress, head to Den Furniture. Formerly a gallery for Mark Kennedy’s mosaic artworks, the space is now dominated by Den Furniture’s range of mid-century and bespoke furniture – and the one-off sofas, chairs, tables and mirrors are well worth their reasonable price tags.

6. The one where the Goths hang out (Afflecks, Oldham Street/Dale Street)
Afflecks is legendary in Manchester, and for good reason. This towering indie emporium has kick-started the careers of many a local entrepreneur, from Red or Dead’s Wayne Hemingway to Urban Splash head honcho Tom Bloxham. Today, it contains dozens of fashion and vintage stalls that sell everything from military garb and Goth-ware to tea dresses and labels such as Thunder Egg and No Angel (both of which have stores on Oldham Street). Although the place teems with teenagers, it’s worth popping in just to say you’ve been there. The milkshake bar on the first floor gives none-too-shabby views of Oldham Street.

7. The one that’s also a café (Pop Boutique, Oldham Street)
One of the oldest vintage shops in the Northern Quarter, Pop is set out across two floors and racks up a barber, two cafes and basement furniture section, as well as its own label and good-as-new originals – all for very reasonable prices. Although the current basement cafe isn’t a patch on its earlier incarnation (the cafe here was once rightly famous for its vast vegetarian breakfasts), it’s still worth a punt, if only to check out the fabulous retro furniture and wallpaper. Pop also stocks the best selection of vintage 501s we’ve seen, as well as a comprehensive range of the type of kitchenware that would have done Barbara from the Good Life proud.

8. The one that’s good for fancy dress (American Graffiti, Hilton Street)
Stock up on fright masks, green wigs and fake blood at this little retro retailer. Although it does also sell vintage clothing (majoring in 1980s womenswear), the shop is one of the best options for fancy dress in the neighbourhood. And, you know, Halloween is right around the corner. You’re not dressing up as a witch again this year, are you?

>> DRINK BREAK! Retro drinking. Still shopping? Pace yourself with a well-earned refreshment break. The Northern is one of our favourite pubs (Tib Street, check out its bespoke wallpaper), coming a close second only to the recently refurbished Castle Hotel on Oldham Street (a cross between a traditional drinking den and an artist hangout). From 5pm, Noho (Stevenson Square) opens its shuttered doors, offering cocktails and beers in a shabby-chic interior made good with floor-to-ceiling graffiti murals.

9. The one that’s good for choice (Ryan Vintage, Oldham Street)
Looking for a one-stop shop for clothes, shoes, accessories, knick-knackery, furniture, hats and more? Head to Ryan Vintage. Inside, it’s dark, noisy and not a little chaotic but there is a huge amount of choice, all of it cheap as chips, much of it varying in quality. It’s perhaps not the most pleasurable shopping experience on offer but, for us, this is vintage at its best: offering the thrill of the rummage and, sometimes, the reward.

10. The one that resembles a jumble sale (United Buildings, Oldham Street)
It seems the further up Oldham Street you go, the cheaper the clothes. Located almost on Great Ancoats Street is a second-hand store that’s about as close to a jumble sale as you’re likely to find without going elbow-to-elbow with old biddies in a church hall. We’re not even sure this place has a name: it’s just a cavernous store with homemade A4 signs that advertise ‘everything for £3’. Inside are rails and boxes stuffed with dubious-looking goods but the old school among you won’t be put off by appearances: it’s at places such as this that the real bargains are to be had. Another sign caught our eye as we were leaving: it’s cash only at the tills, naturally.

Images (top to bottom): Afflecks, Ryan Vintage, Afflecks, Pop Boutique, all courtesy Susie Stubbs.

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